Green is the new orange and black for Halloween this year. We thought it would be a good idea to give some tips on how to make this day of celebration, candy, goblins, and witches a more sustainable one than years past with these ten tips for a Green Halloween!
- Reusable bags! Rather than buying a new plastic bag or paper bag each year. Buy a recycled bag and reuse it every year! It is more economical, because you do not have to keep buying more and more bags… and it is better for the environment! Plus, you can make it into an arts and crafts activity, turning a pillow case or bucket into a trick or treat bag. Kids will love it!
- Pumpkins! One of the trademarks of Halloween can also be a more sustainable decoration. When making jack-o-lanterns, you can keep the seeds and toast them. Pumpkin seeds are actually considered a superfood because of the amount of protein, fiber, magnesium, manganese, iron, and zinc in the seeds. Known for being favorable for arthritis, prostate health, and bone strength, the pumpkin pulp has the same nutritional qualities as the seeds. Plus it can be made into pies, bread, dip, soup, pancakes, and pretty much anything else you can think of. And after the kids go to bed, you and your lover can enjoy another “benefit” of eating pumpkin…
- Online Invitations! If you are having a Halloween party, send online email invitations rather than paper ones! You will save money on postage and paper and you will prevent paper waste. Evite is an easy and free choice for your green Halloween invitations.
- Costumes! This is a great way to prevent waste and go green this Halloween. Did you know the average person in the United States spends approximately $60 on their Halloween costume each year? There are many ways to be green with costumes. 1. Switch last year’s costume with a friend, and you can recycle each other’s costumes so that you each have a new one! 2. Make a costume with old shirts, tape, cardboard, aluminum foil (for a burrito costume…and yes, the rumor is true, not just in California), electric tape, sheets, and many other things! Some great ideas for homemade costumes are here. What is great about a green costume, is that you can also use it to spread awareness. For example, you can be a beluga whale to spread awareness of the newly endangered species or have a family member (or pet…) dress as a honeybee to spread awareness about how pesticides are decreasing the honeybee population.
- Flashlights! More than likely, if you are running around the neighborhood trick or treating you will be using a flashlight. Well, use rechargeable batteries! Less waste and more economical for your household.
- Trick or Treat for Cell phones! No, not to get you a free Iphone…although, I guess it could happen… The idea is that you leave notices on your neighbor’s doors ahead of time saying you are collecting old cell phones on Halloween to be recycled by the Good Deed Foundation. When you go around trick or treating, ask for the cell phones. Good Deed Foundation provides the box and the shipping and Voila! You helped the environment by preventing waste and a great foundation!
- Reverse Trick or Treating! While you trick or treat, hand out fair trade chocolate with a flyer to help end abusive labor conditions on cocoa farms for children and adults while also supporting Fair Trade organizations, like Divine Chocolate, that provide higher wages and healthier conditions for their cocoa farmers.
- Trash and recycle bags! While you walk around the neighborhood, have your family pick up trash and anything that can be recycled along the way to encourage a clean environment.
- Candles! Using soy or beeswax candles rather than the normal petroleum-based paraffin candles made by popular candle companies. These types of candles cause air pollution from neurotoxic fumes and even the soot is full of carcinogens, neurotoxins, and reproductive toxins. You can prevent all of this if you use soy or beeswax candles in your pumpkins and in your home this Halloween and the rest of the year.
- Halloween Masks! Stay away from Halloween masks this year! Most of the Halloween masks out there are made from Polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Not only is PVC a non-recyclable plastic, it is also known for releasing dioxins that cause cancer, and what is used to make the PVC flexible is correlated with male genital development…(Yikes!) Do you really want this material near yours, your friend’s, or your child’s face?
I hope these Greenertrends’ tips for a Green Halloween have been helpful to you! Enjoy this Halloween and remember to be green! Let us know what you think, leave a Comment!
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey Kate, great post. Now that Halloween is over, what should we do with our Jack-o-lanterns? Right now the are just about to start rotting, and the person who sold them to us said that the fleshy part is not good for eating.
Nigels last blog post..America: get ready for GE animals and fish
Hello Nigel,
The best way to dispose of your rotting pumpkin is to compost it. If you have a compost pile or a home composting system, that would work best. If not, depending on where you live, many areas have food waste drop sites or a friend or neighbor may have a compost pile. Let us know if you have any more questions.
Cute Bumble Bee Costume for the Yellow Lab! My costume this year was very eco-friendly. My friends were eating me all night. I dressed up as a snack bar. Black clothes and bags of candy, chips, and popcorn pinned to my body. By the end of the night, my bags were empty and friends tummies full. Perfect for the 2am munchies.
Ashs last blog post..Light Up Your Bike Lights